[Baypiggies] Suggestions on Python training for first programming language?

[seth f]

Thanks you all for your (ok, predictable) high level of supportiveness (one
of the reasons I steer people towards python as a community as much as i do
as a beautiful programming language).

As a friend I'm both going to do what I can to mellowly teach (ie, hang out
over a glass of nice red) and/or steer her towards more qualified people
than myself for better education, as I have a high level of familiarity
with just the basics of python, not by choice.  I don't think she's going
to be the champion to conquer the GIL, but as a user of a language picking
between PHP ruby perl java etc, python seems like a great first language to
me.

I appreciate the suggestions.   Thanks.  See most of you soon probably.

seth


On Mon, Mar 31, 2014 at 8:34 PM, James Nicholson <nicholsonjf at gmail.com>wrote:

> My introduction to Python one year ago was through the Python Codeacademy
> track <http://www.codecademy.com/tracks/python>. It's free, has a user
> friendly interface, and is easy to start, stop and pick back up again. For
> someone completely new to programming, it took me about 3 months to finish.
> I thought the course did a good job explaining the basics, and pointing the
> student to important outside resources like the Python documentation. Also,
> since it's free and can be started very quickly at any time, it's a great
> way to see how much you actually enjoy programming without spending any
> money.
>
> I'm about to start a more intermediate 8-week course on April 8th (luckily
> paid for by my employer) at UCSC Extension called Python for Programmers<http://course.ucsc-extension.edu/modules/shop/index.html?action=section&OfferingID=1531625&SectionID=5274428>.
> I'll try to followup on this thread after I'm done with some notes on my
> experience there.
>
> -James
>
> James Nicholson
> nicholsonjf.com
>
>
> On Mon, Mar 31, 2014 at 6:28 PM, Shannon -jj Behrens <jjinux at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> I heartily recommend Hackbright Academy as well, based on all the women
>> I've met from there.
>>
>> If all she wants is a book, I know a lot of people have had success with:
>> http://www.amazon.com/Python-Programming-Introduction-Computer-Science/dp/1887902996
>>
>> There are Python classes on Code Academy, Udacity, Cousera, code.org (I
>> think), etc. However, I haven't seen as many people make it all the way
>> through those.
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Mar 31, 2014 at 4:17 PM, Marc Abramowitz <msabramo at gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>> My company (SurveyMonkey) has hired several graduates of:
>>>
>>> http://www.hackbrightacademy.com
>>>
>>> It's a 12 week intensive course in web development using Python for
>>> women. It's in San Francisco.
>>>
>>> If your friend is interested, I could help introduce her to one of our
>>> HackBright alumni, if she wants to ask them questions about it.
>>>
>>> -Marc
>>> http://marc-abramowitz.com
>>> Sent from my iPhone 4S
>>>
>>>
>>> > On Mar 30, 2014, at 6:28 PM, seth f <sfseth at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> >
>>> > Hi folks,
>>> >
>>> > I have a good friend of 20+ years that seems curious about getting
>>> more technical.   She's whip-smart, super creative, and frustrated with her
>>> current gig, which I gather is like somewhere in between editor of content
>>> and QA.
>>> >
>>> > My initial reaction was, the Python community especially around here
>>> is super cool, of course that's what my first thought is.  Get above (or
>>> below) the content level, get to the machinery at work, a happier life
>>> exists.
>>> >
>>> > Question to the group, I ask on her behalf: can anyone recommend any
>>> particular python classes?  Or is anyone doing tutoring kind of stuff?   jj?
>>> >
>>> > It would sadden me to see her go off into PHP or Perl lands, I think
>>> it would be a couple of years of "wow" and then a world of despair.  Java I
>>> think the corporateness would get to her right off.
>>> >
>>> > So of course I'm biased but I suggested Python... I suggested Ruby
>>> too, with the caveat that I just found Ruby to be cutesy, and both of us
>>> are pretty dark in our senses of humor.
>>> >
>>> > Anyway, if we've got any Python educators on the list please let me
>>> know.
>>> >
>>> > Thanks!
>>> > seth
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>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with
>> great love. -- Mother Teresa
>>
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